Machine for making chipped ice



Dec. 3, 1963 D. l.. BOLLEFER 3,112,622

MACHINE FoR MAKING CHIPPED ICE Filed June 21, 19Go 2 sheets-sheet 1 FIG.2

4. INVENTOR. .DWIGHT L. .BoLLEFEn A TTRNEYS Dec. 3, 1963 D. L. BOLLEFERMACHINE FOR MAKING CHIPPED ICE 2 vSheets-Sheei*I 2 Filed June 21, 1960.mi dan@ INVENTOR. DWIGHT L. BoLLEFER BY y M A T TORNEYS United StatesPatent O Fiied .inne 2l, 1%0, Ser. No. 37,685 9 lairns. 62-320) Thisinvention relates ygenerally to ice making machines, and moreparticularly it relates to a machine for making chipped ice.

Previous machines for making chipped ice have generally not producedoptimum satisfaction since they have not been successful in producingice chips of a substantially uniform size, it being well recognized inthe art that one of the most important criteria for judging the qualityof a machine for chipped ice is its ability to produce ice chips of asubstantially uniform size. Previous machines for making chipped icehave also not been satisfactory in a commercial sense because of theirinability yto produce individual ice chips which are not characterizedby the presence of weakening cracks and ssures. A further probleminherent in previous designs for mafor nakini7 chipped ice has been thediiiculty in preventing the individual chips from coagmlating andfreezing together after they have been produced and transported to lastorage ln light of the above, an rmportant object of t .is invention isthe provision of a machine for making chipped ice which, in addition toother improvements, overcomes the 'above enumerated specic problems andfaults inherent in previous designs of machines for making chipped ice.

More specifically, an important object of this invention is theprovision of a generally horizontally disposed machine vfor chipped icewhich is automatic and continuous in its operation.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a machine formaking chipped ice which is provided with a water lbath for temperingthe continuous ilow of chipped ice from the machine and preventingcoagulation of the particles of chipped ice.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a machine formaking chipped ice which is provided with a novel die member forcompacting the ice which is removed from the generally cylindricalfreezing surface of my machine.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a machine formaking chipped ice which is provided at its outlet end with an upturnedspout which cooperates with a =rotating die member for breaking thecontinuous flow of ice and aiding in the production of ice chips of asubstantially uniform size.

Stili another object of this invention is the provision of a machine formaking chipped ice which is capable of producing large quantities ofchipped ice, and which is continuous in operation and does not requirethe attention of an operator.

Further objects of this invention reside in the provision of a machinefor making chipped ice which is extremely simple in construction,comprised of a minimum of parts, extremely strong and durable throughoutcontinuous and prolonged operation, and highly efficient in thevindication of its purpose.

The above and still further objects of this invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed specification, `appended claims andattached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicatelike parts or elements throughout the several views:

HG. l is a view in perspective of the cabinet portion of my ice makin-gmachine;

"ice

ilG. 2 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken on the line 2 2 ofFlG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in horizontal section taken on the line 3-3of FlG. 2, some parts being broken away;

FiG. l is a view in vertical section taken on the line i-d of FlG. 3,some parts being broken away;

PEG. 5 is a greatly enlarged view in vertical section taken on the line5 5 of FIG. 3, some parts being broken away;

FlG. 6 is a further enlarged view in transverse vertical section takenon the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of the die member of my invention; and

FIG. 8 is a further enlarged view in vertical section taken on the line8-3 of FIG. 4, some parts being broken away.

Referring with greater particular-ity to the drawings, the referencenumeral l represents my machine for making chipped ice in its entirety,and the reference numeral Z represents in general the cabinet portion ofmy invention. rEhe cabinet Z denes an upper compartment 3, whichcontains the main apparatus of my invention as -will hereinafter be setforth, and a `lower storage bin for storing the chipped ice after it isproduced. The upper compartment 3 and the lower storage bin 4 areseparated by an intermediate wall S, and the upper compartment 3 isprovided with a door 6 and the lower storage bin 4 is provided with adoor 7, the doors 6, being disposed in the conventional manner.

A generally rectangular drain tray l8 is secured to the intermediatewall S, the drain tray d supporting conventional refrigeration apparatusincluding a motor driven compressor 9 and a water cooled condenser it?.The refrigeration system further includes an evaporator 1l comprising aplurality of evaporator coils i2 that lare suitably connected to thecompressor 9 and the condenser i@ by means of conduits i3 and i4respectively, a throttle control element, represented in general by thereference numeral l5, interposed in the conduit lil, and other wellknowncontrol elements, not shown. The refrigeration apparatus may be of anywell-known and readily available type, and it in itself does notcomprise the instant invention. Therefore, for the sake of brevity,further showing and description of the refrigeration apparatus isomitted. Referring in particular to FIG. 5, it will be seen that my icemaking machine l comprises a generally horizontally disposed freezingcylinder, represented in general by the reference numeral 16. Thefreezing cylinder 16 defines a chamber i7 bounded "by ian innergenerally cylindrical freezing surface 18. The greater intermediateportion of the freezing cylinder 16 defines an enlarged portion l?,which is formed, preferably by casting, with the evaporator coils 12imbedded in axially spaced relationship within the enlarged portion i9.A primary water inlet pipe 2t) is connected to the freezing cylinder i6for maintaining the chamber 17 full of water, the water pipe 2@ beingpreferably connected to an ordinary water supply source, not shown. Therefrigeration apparatus, and particularly the evaporator coils 12v, isoperated so as to refrigerate the inner surface i3 of the freezingcylinder l@ so as to cool water received within the chamber 17 andfreeze a layer of ice, not shown, on said surface 1S.

in further reference to FlG. 5, it will be noted that an annular closureplate 2l is rigidly secured to the rearward end Z2 of the cylinder i6. Acylinder extension sleeve 23 is secured, preferably by thecircumferentially spaced cap screws 2d, to the forward end 25 of thecylinder 16. Also, an upturned generally tubular outlet spout 2e havinga closed imperforate bottom portion is .rigidly secured to the extensionsleeve 23, the outlet spout 26 being disposed with its upper end Z7 at ahigher elevation than the upper extremity of the chamber 17 so as to 3prevent the escape of water contained lwithin the chamber i7. Thechamber f7, the'extension sleeve 23 and the outlet spout 26 are allformed so that a constant inner diameter is maintained throughout themachine fr so as to permit the easy passage of the particles of chippedice, not shown, throughout the machine l.

ln accordance with my invention, a helical auger, represented in generalby the reference numeral 2d, is received witmn the freezing cylinder loand mounted for rotation therein. The auger 2S defines a forward end 2?disposed adjacent the extension sleeve 23 and a rearward end Sildisposed adjacent theV closure plate El. The auger 23 defines anintegrally formed driving shaft 3l at its rearward end 3) which projectsgenerally centrally through a centrally disposed aperture 32. defined inthe closure plate 2l. For the purpose of rigidly securing the freezingcylinder lo to the cabinet 2, a U-shaped frame section is provided withan upstanding mounting bracket 33 which is rigidly secured, as bywelding, to the iframe section 3'. The closure plate 2l is rigidlysecured to the mounting bracket 33 by means of a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced bolts 3d, the annular bearing block 35 beinginterposed between the closure plate 21 and the mounting bracket 33, asseen particularly in FIG. 5. It will be noted that the driving shaft 3lprojects through the closure plate 21, the bearing block 35 and themounting bracket 33, and is journalled within the bearing block 35 bymeans of a conventional ball bearing assembly 57. For the purpose ofpreventing leakage of water contained Within the chamber i7, a sealassembly 33 is disposed between the ball bearing assembly 37 and theclosure plate 2l.

For the purpose of imparting normally continuous rotation ofapproximately 5-10 r.p.m. to the auger 2S, an electric motor 39 and agear reducer are provided, the latter of which is rigidly secured to ahorizontal portion il of the mounting bracket 33. lt will be noted byreferring to FIGS. 3 and 4, that the motor 39 is rigidly coupleddirectly to the gear reducer 4Q. The gear reducer 4t? is vconnected tothe driving shaft 3l of the auger 2S by means of the drive chain 42which couples the relatively large sprocket wheel d3, which is securedto the projecting end 3d of the driving shaft 3l, to the relativelysmall sprocket wheel 44, which is rigidly secured to the output shaft i5of the gear reducer 4%.

With reference to FlGS. 5, 6, and 7, it will be noted that an elongateddie member, represented in general by the reference numeral 46, isreceived within the cylinder extension sleeve 23, the clearance betweenthe outer surface '47 of the die member lo and the extension sleeve 23being suihcient to permit rotation of said die member 46 within theextension sleeve 23. It will also be noted that the die member dodefines in axially opening screw threaded aperture which is adapted toreceive the screw threaded forward end 29 of the auger 28 so as torigidly secure the die member 46 to the auger .'23l and thereby impartrotation to the die member 46 according to the rotation of the auger 28.vIt will be noted that the helical flight 49 of the auger 28 engagesice, not shown, formed on the inner freezing surface 18 of the cylinderlo so as to remove the ice from said surface i8, and propel theparticles of ice toward and into the die member 46. The die member 46 isprovided with a generally cylindrical bearing sleeve 46', which isfitted tightly about the die member 46 and rotates therewith. inaccordance with my invention, the outer surface if? of the bearingsleeve 45 bears against the inner surface of the cylinder extensionsleeve 2.3 whereby the earing sleeve ed of the die member 46 acts as ajournal for the forward end 29 of the auger 2S.

The die member i6 is formed to define a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced axially extending radially outwardly projecting lugs Si) whichare tapered toward their rearward ends Sil so as to define axiallyextending pas- Sageways 52 circumferentially spaced intermediate tde '4lugs 59, the cross-sectional area of the passageways 52 decreasingtoward the forward end 53 of the die member le whereby to provide meansfor compacting the ice removed from the freezing surface l. The diemember te also serves to expel the particles of chipped ice into theupturned spout 2o.

For the purpose of tempering the continuous -ilow of chipped ice fromthe die member 46, and also for preventcoagulation of the particles ofchipped ice after they are transferred to the storage bin 4, a secondarywater inlet pipe 55s is connected to the upturned spout 2o so as tomaintain a secondary water reservoir 55 for bathing the particles ofchipped ice, not shown, before they are transferred from the spout 2e tothe storage bin :1, as will hereinafter be explained. FG. 8 discloses aconventional float valve, represented in general by the referencenumeral 56, which is interposed between the primary and secondary waterinlet pipes 25E, 54 and the water supply pipe, shown at 57. The floatvalve de comprises a conventional float 53 and a needle valve SQ, asseen particularly in HG. 8. lt should be noted that the float valve 56is disposed at such an elevation as to maintain the water level withinthe chamber i7 and the upturned spout 26 at an elevation approximan'ngthat shown by the water level line in FIG. 5 Preferably, and as shown,the disposition of the lloat valve 56 in the approximate position shownin FIG. 4 will maintain the chamber i7 full of water so that the entirecylindrical freezing surface lS is utilized, It should be noted that thefreezing cylinder lo is provided with an upstanding air vent 6@ so as topermit the escape of air that might be trapped within the cylinder lo. l

lt will be noted by referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, that the outlet spout 26is preferably, and as shown, upwardly and forwardly angularly disposedso as to eject the particles of chipped ice, not shown, into an upwardlyand rearwardly inc-lined transfer chute, represented in general by thereference numeral 6l. The upper end 27 of the outlet spout is receivedwithin an aperture 62 defined in the bottom wall d3 of the transferchute nl, the bottom portion 64 of the transfer chute extending throughan aperture 65 defined in the intermediate Wall 5 of the cabinet Z so asto transfer the particles of chipped ice into the storage bin d. For thepurpose of shutting OE the auger driving motor 39 and the refrigerationapparatue when the storage bin i is filled to a predetermined heightywith the chipped ice, the sensor tube 66 is provided, the same beingoperatively connected to suitable and conventional control mechanism,the further showing and description thereof being omitted for the sakeof brevity.

Having specically described my invention, the following statements areoffered for'the purpose of teaching the operative simplicity of myinvention. When the machine `l. is put into operation by starting therefrigeration apparatus and energizing the auger drive motor 39, theevaporator coils l2 serve to refrigerate the inner freezing surface 18of the freezing cylinder lo so as to cool the Water disposed within thechamber i7 and contin1 ously freeze a layer of ice on the surface f3.The flight 49 of the continuously rotating auger 23 engages the iceformed on the freezing surface l@ and cuttingly removes the same fromsaid surface lil. When the icc particles, not shown, are rst removedfrom the freez" ing surface lo, they are generally in the form ofgenorally elongated strips of ice, not shown, However, the continuousrotation of the auger 24S serves to propel the particles of chipped icetoward and into the die member 46, and in doing so, the strips of iceare further divided and broken by the continuous revolution of the augerZ?. When the particles of chipped ice enter the die member 46 they arethen compacted and expelled into the water reservoir 55', defined by theupturned spout 2S. At this point, the action of the revolving die memberde, coupled with the stationary upturned spout 26 serves to mix or churnthe particles of ice before they1 are expelled by the outlet spout 26.It is this mixing function of the die member d6 and the spout 26 whichhelps to produce substantially uniform chips of ice.

Since the bathing function of the secondary water reservoir 55 is animportant part of this invention, the purpose and operative functionthereof will be set forth in detail. At should be noted that the waterintroduced into the machine l by both the primary and secondary waterinlet pipes 2Q, 5d, is of a temperature of and consists of ordinary tapwater. It has been determined that after the machine l has beenproducing ice chips for a short period of time, approximately theforward one-half of the freezing cylinder lo contains particles of icewhich are removed from approximately the rearward one-half of thefreezing surface 18 of the freezing cylinder 16. Accordingly, this massof ice chips contained in the forward portion of the chamber i7 and thedie member 46 prevents the water contained in the chamber 17 frompassing into the upturned spout 26, and therefore requires theconnection of the secondary Water pipe Sd to the spout 26 in order toprovide the water reservoir 55 within the spout 26. It has also beende-. termined that the temperature of the ice chips when they are passedinto the die member 46 is considerably less than 32 degrees F., and isapproximately 10-15 degrees F. Therefore, when the ice chips, not shown,pass from the die member 46 into the water reservoir 55 defined by theoutlet spout 26, the temperature of the water in the water reservoir 55being that of ordinary tap water or, that is, water of a temperatureconsiderably above the temperature of the water in the freezing charnberand the temperature of the ice flowing from said freezing chamber theindividual ice chips take on more water in the bathing reservoir :35 soas to substantially lill the cracks and fissures contained in theindividual chips wherby to form a more solid and desirable ice chip.Further, while the ice clnps are taking on more water, so as to formmore solid chips, the temperature thereof is raised to approximately 32degrees F. It is this last fact which prevents the coagulation of theice chips after they are transferred to the storage bin d since the factthat their temperature approximates 32 degrees F., the possibility ofthe ice chips freezing together is practically eliminated. lt should beemphasized that the operation of my machine l for making ice chips isautomatic and continuous, the ice chips being transferred from the orlet spout 2d to the storage bin 4 by means of the transfer chute 6l.

This invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completelysatisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects; and while Ihave shown a preferred embodiment thereof, l wish it to be specificallyunderstood that the same may be modified without departure from thescope and spirit of the appended claims.

Vfhat I claim is:

l. A machine for making chipped ice comprising a generally horizontallydisposed freezing cylinder which denes a chamber bounded by an innergenerally cylindrical freezing surface, primary water inlet means aS-sociated with said chamber for maintaining a volume of watertherewithin, refrigeration apparatus including an evaporator associatedwith said cylinder for refrigerating the inner surface of said cylinderso as to cool the Water received within said chamber and freeze a layerof ice on said surface, closure means adjacent one end of said cylinderand water retaining means adjacent the other end thereof, an augerreceived within said cylinder and mounted for rotation therein, drivingmeans for imparting rotation to said auger, the flight of said augerengaging ice formed on the inner freezing surface of said cylinder so asto remove the ice from said surface, an ice outlet defined by said waterretaining means adjacent the ejecting end of said auger, said augerbeing adapted to propel the chipped ice toward said ice outlet, andsecondary water inlet means connected to a water source the temperatureof which is considerably above the temperature of the water in saidfreezing chamber and the temperature of the ice flowing from the saidfreezing chamber, said secondary water inlet means opening into saidwater retaining means, said water in said water retaining means adjacentsaid ice outlet tempering the iiow of ice therefrom and preventingcoagulation of the particles of ice.

2. A machine for making chipped ice comprising a generally horizontallydisposed freezing cylinder which denes a chamber bounded by an innergenerally cylindrical freezing surface, water inlet means associatedwith said chamber for maintaining a voltune of water therewithin,refrigeration apparatus including an evaporator associated with saidcylinder for refrigerating the inner surface of said cylinder so as tocool water received within said chamber and freeze a layer of ice onsaid surface, closure means adjacent one end of said cylinder and waterretaining means adjacent the other end thereof, an auger received withinsaid cylinder and mounted for rotation therein, said auger defining aforward end disposed adjacent said water retaining means and a rearwardend disposed adjacent said closure means, driving means connected tosaid auger for imparting normally continuous rotation thereto, a diemember received within said cylinder and disposed adjacent the forwardend of said auger, the flight of said auger engaging ice formed on theinner freezing surface of said cylinder so as to remove particles ofchipped ice from said surface, said die member being adapted to compactthe ice removed from said freezing surface, an ice outlet deiined bysaid water retaining means adjacent the forward end of said auger, saidauger being adapted to propel the chipped ice toward said ice outlet,and a water bath adjacent the ice outlet for tempering the continuousliow of chipped ice therefrom and preventing coagulation of theparticles of chipped ice.

3. A machine for making chipped ice comprising a generally horizontallydisposed freezing cylinder W ich defines a chamber bounded by an innergenerally cylindrical freezing surface, primary water inlet meansassoci- Vated with said chamber for maintaining a volume of watertherewithin, refrigeration apparatus including an evaporator associatedwith said cylinder for refrigerating the inner surface thereof so as tocool Water received within said chamber and freeze a layer of ice onsaid surface, closure means adjacent one end of said cylinder, anupturned generally tubular outlet spout secured to the other end of saidcylinder, said outlet spout being disposed with its upper end at ahigher elevation than the water level in said cylinder, an augerreceived within said cylinder and mounted for rotation therein, saidauger dening a forward end disposed adjacent said outlet spout and arearward end disposed adjacent said closure means, driving meansconnected to said rearward end of said auger for imparting normallycontinuous rotation thereto, a die member received within said cylinderand rigidly secured to said forward end'of said auger for rotationtherewith, the flight of said auger engaging ice formed on the innerfreezing surface of said cylinder so as to remove particles of chippedice from said surface, said die member being adapted to compact the iceremoved from said freezing surface, said augur being adapted to propelthe chipped ice toward said outlet spout, and secondary water inletmeans associated with said spout so as to maintain a water bath withinsaid spout for tempering the continuous iiow of chipped ice therefromand preventing coagulation of the particles of chipped ice.

4. A machine for making chipped ice comprising a generally horizontallydisposed freezing cylinder which defines a chamber bounded by an innergenerally cylindrical freezing surface, primary water inlet meansassociated with said chamber for maintaining said chamber full of water,refrigeration apparatus including an evaporator l* extending to a higherelevation than the upper extremity of said chamber, means for rotatingsaid auger in said chamber said rotatin7 auver in en avement with the laer a c o a of ice en said chamber surface removes ice therefrom andpropels the same initially axially beyond said supporting 5 member andthen upwardly through said spout.

9. The machine as defined in claim 8, in which said supporting membercomprises a die member secured to the adjacent end of said auger forrotation therewith, said die member being mounted in said chamber forrotation adjacent to the end of said chamber remote from closure memberwith said auger extending between said closure member and said diemember, and said outlet spout havl@ ing said one end portion thereofconnected to said chamer adjacent to said die member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTED ST TES PATENTS2,597,515 Nitsch May 20, 1952 2,651,186 Murphy Sept. 8, 1953 2,962,878Keller Dec. 6, 1960 3,066,500 Ross Dec. 4, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 409,499Great Britain May 3, 1934

8. A CHIPPED ICE MAKING MACHINE FOR PRODUCING AND EJECTING ICE CHIPS OFA SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM SIZE, COMPRISING A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLYDISPOSED CYLINDRICAL FREEZING CHAMBER, MEANS FOR COOLING SAID CHAMBER,MEANS FOR SUPPLYING THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID CHAMBER WITH WATER TOFREEZE A LAYER OF ICE THEREON, A CLOSURE MEMBER AT ONE END OF SAIDCHAMBER, AN AUGER AXIALLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CHAMBER, AN UPTURNEDGENERALLY TUBULAR IMPERFORATE OUTLET SPOUT HAVING ONE END PORTIONTHEREOF GENERALLY AXIALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID CHAMBER AND CONNECTED TO THEEND OF SAID CHAMBER REMOTE FROM SAID CLOSURE MEMBER AND DEFINING ANAXIAL EXTENSION OF SAID CHAMBER, A SUPPORTING MEMBER DISPOSED IN SAIDCHAMBER ADJACENT SAID ONE END